A variety of strategies is being used to capture information from natu
ral history specimens and to develop new research databases containing
information on taxonomic groups. Consortia of institutions are being
formed for the purpose of capturing data and making them available thr
ough centralized or dispersed databases. Geographical information, whe
n analyzed using Geographical Information Systems, provides informatio
n useful in management and conservation of taxa and habitats. Images,
when analyzed using such techniques as X-ray computed tomography and t
hree-dimensional image processing, can reduce the need to examine actu
al specimens. Image, sound, and text data are being combined into rese
arch and instructional programs. Information on characteristics, distr
ibutions, and relationships of taxa are being linked to other data sou
rces, from both collections and non-collections databases. Efforts are
underway to develop data standards and data-sharing protocols in orde
r to facilitate sharing of these data among institutions and across di
sciplines.